Modified filler material for alkaline paper and method of use thereof in alkaline paper making

Abstract

A hydrophobic filler material for alkaline paper is disclosed. The filler material comprises finely divided particles of an inorganic material, a majority of particles having a surface all of which is substantially modified with a water soluble C12-C22 fatty acid salt and a metal ion in an amount at least effective to complex all of the fatty acid salt present. An alkaline paper is disclosed. The alkaline paper comprises a hydrophobic filler material comprising finely divided inorganic material, a majority of particles having substantially all of their surface being modified with a water soluble C12-C22 fatty acid salt. A method for improving sizing of alkaline paper is disclosed, comprising preparing a filler material and adding the same to cellulose fiber. The filler material is prepared by selecting finely divided particles of an inorganic material and substantially modifying all of the surface of a majority of the particles with a C12-C22 fatty acid salt, forming a hydrophobic coating thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydrophobic filler material for paper comprising: a. finely divided particles of inorganic material;   b. a water soluble C 12  -C 22  fatty acid salt in an amount sufficient to coat substantially all of the surfaces of at least a majority of the particles; and   c. a metal ion in an amount at least effective to complex all of the fatty acid salt.   
     
     
       2. The filler material of claim 1, wherein the inorganic material is clay, TiO 2  or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       3. The filler material of claim 2, wherein the inorganic material is precipitated calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       4. The filler material of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid salt is derived from a C 16  -C 19  fatty acid. 
     
     
       5. The filler material of claim 1, wherein a cation of the fatty acid salt is an alkali metal. 
     
     
       6. The filler material of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid salt is sodium stearate. 
     
     
       7. The filler material of claim 1, wherein the metal ion is aluminum, barium, lithium, magnesium or zinc. 
     
     
       8. The filler material of claim 7, wherein the metal ion is aluminum. 
     
     
       9. The filler material of claim wherein the inorganic material has a particle size of between about 0.1 and 5 microns. 
     
     
       10. The filler material of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid salt is present in an amount of between about 0.5 and 2% based on the weight of the inorganic material. 
     
     
       11. The filler material of claim 1 wherein the metal ion is present in an amount of between about 0.01 and 3% based on the weight of the inorganic material. 
     
     
       12. A hydrophobic filler material for paper consisting essentially of a. finely divided particles of inorganic material having a particle size of between about 0.1 and 5 microns;   b. a water soluble C 12  -C 22  fatty acid salt in an amount sufficient to coat substantially all of the surfaces of at least a majority of the particles, thus being present in an amount of between about 0.5 and 2% based on the weight of the inorganic material; and   c. a metal ion in an amount of between about 0.01 and 3% based on the weight of the inorganic material to complex substantially all of the fatty acid salt.   
     
     
       13. The filler material of claim 12 wherein the inorganic material is clay, TiO 2  or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       14. The filler material of claim 13 wherein the fatty acid is derived from a C 16  -C 19  fatty acid. 
     
     
       15. The filler material of claim 14 wherein the metal ion is aluminum, barium, lithium, magnesium or zinc. 
     
     
       16. A method for making a hydrophobic filler material for paper which comprises selecting finely divided particles of an inorganic material;   coating substantially all surfaces of a majority of the particles of the inorganic material by reacting the particles with a C 12  C 22  fatty acid salt to form a water-soluble fatty acid coating thereon; and   contacting the particles with a metal ion in an amount sufficient to complex substantially all of the fatty acid salt thereon.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 which further comprises selecting the finely divided particles of inorganic material to have a particle size of between about 0.1 and 5 microns. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16 which further comprises providing the water soluble C 12  -C 22  fatty acid salt in an amount of between about 0.5 and 2% based on the weight of the inorganic material. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 16 which further comprises providing the metal ion in an amount of between about 0.01 and 3% based on the weight of the inorganic material to complex substantially all of the fatty acid salt. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 16 which further comprises selecting the finely divided particles of inorganic material to be clay, TiO 2  or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 which further comprises preparing the finely divided particles in the form of a slurry prior to modifying the surfaces thereof with the fatty acid salt. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 which further comprises providing the slurry with about 5 to 75% by weight solids of the finely divided particles in an aqueous phase at a pH of about 7 to 12. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 16 further comprises preparing the fatty acid salt in the form of a slurry prior to reaction with the finely divided inorganic particles. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 21 which further comprises providing fatty acid salt in the form of a powder for reaction with the slurry of finely divided inorganic particles. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 19 wherein the metal ions are added in an amount of between about 0.01 and 3% based on the dry weight of the finely divided particles. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 16 wherein the dry weight of the fatty acid is between about 0.1 and 5% based on the dry weight of the finely divided particles. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 16 which further comprises selecting the inorganic material to be clay, TiO 2  or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 16 which further comprises selecting the fatty acid to be a C 16  -C 19  fatty acid. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 16 which further comprises selecting the metal ion to be aluminum, barium, lithium magnesium or zinc. 
     
     
       30. The filler material produced by the process of claim 16. 
     
     
       31. The filler material produced by the process of claim 17. 
     
     
       32. The filler material produced by the process of claim 18. 
     
     
       33. The filler material produced by the process of claim 19. 
     
     
       34. The filler material produced by the process of claim 20. 
     
     
       35. The filler material produced by the process of claim 21. 
     
     
       36. The filler material produced by the process of claim 22. 
     
     
       37. The filler material produced by the process of claim 23. 
     
     
       38. The filler material produced by the process of claim 24. 
     
     
       39. The filler material produced by the process of claim 25. 
     
     
       40. The filler material produced by the process of claim 26. 
     
     
       41. The filler material produced by the process of claim 27. 
     
     
       42. The filler material produced by the process of claim 28. 
     
     
       43. The filler material produced by the process of claim 29.